Name: LACSON, ANGEL MAE 11 STEM Period: _CHEMISTRY_

Pre-lab for Build an Atom

1. You build an atom that has the following components:
3 protons
P
4 neutrons
N
3 electrons
E

Draw a picture of how you would build your atom below:

Which element is this atom on this periodic table?

 _____________________________

The mass of this atom is:

a. 3 mass units Explain what ideas you used to choose an answer:
b. 4 mass units By simply adding the Protons and Neutrons to determine the elements of the mass.
c. 6 mass units
d. 7 mass units
e. 11 mass units

The charge of this atom is:

a. 0, this is a neutral atom
b. -3
c. -1
d. +1
e. +3

2. You start with your atom: 3 protons

4 neutrons
3 electrons
You want to change your atom’s properties.
Mark YES if a change will work, and mark NO if it will not work.

A. Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon are all different elements.

If you want to change the type of element your atom is, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

B. If you want to change the charge of your atom, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

C. If you want to change the mass of your atom, you can either:
(circle)
Add a proton Yes or No
or Add a neutron Yes or No
or Add an electron Yes or No

Name: _LACSON, ANGEL MAE _____________________________ Period: __CHEMISTRY_____________

Build an Atom
Learning Objectives:
1. Draw models that show atoms or ions.
2. Use information about the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons to
 •
Identify an element and its position on the periodic table

•
Draw models of atoms

•
Determine if the model is for a atom or an ion.
3. Predict how changing the number protons, neutrons, or electrons will change the element, the
charge, and the mass of an atom or ion.

Directions:
1. Explore the Build an Atom simulation with your partner (about 5 minutes). As you explore, talk
about what you find with your partner.

2. Using Build an Atom, talk with your partner as you play with the parts of atoms to find: A. What

parts go in the center of the atom? _________________________________________

B. You can call the center of the atom, the nucleus. Most atoms in our environment have a stable
nucleus.

C. Play around, and write down three examples of atoms that have a stable nucleus and include a
drawing of your nucleus.
Number of particles Draw What element
in your nucleus: your nucleus is it?

1. Protons: __
Neutrons:__

2. Protons: __
Neutrons:__

3. Protons: __
Neutrons:__
 D. Everything around us is made up of different elements. The air has Oxygen (O) and Nitrogen (N).
Plants and people have lots of Carbon (C). Helium (He) is in balloons. Hydrogen (H) is in water.
Play until you discover which particle (or particles) determines the name of the element you
build. What did you discover?
___________________________________________________________________________

E. Test your idea by identifying the element for the 3 cases.

Particles What What What’s the Element symbol
Element Determines
? the Element?

1. Protons: CARBON ☐ Proton

6 ☐ Neutron
Neutrons: ☐ Electron
6
Electrons
:6

2. Protons: NITROGEN ☐ Proton

7 ☐ Neutron
Neutrons: ☐ Electron
6
Electrons
:6

3. Protons: CARBON ☐ Proton

6 ☐ Neutron
Neutrons: ☐ Electron
7
Electrons
:7

5. Play until you discover what affects the charge of your atom or ion.
What is a rule for making...
A. A atom neutral (one with 0 extra charge)?
______________________________________ ______________YES__________________________
B. A +ion (positive ion, one with extra positive charge)?
_________________________________________________YES_____________________________
C. A - ion (negative ion, one with extra negative charge)?
_________________________________________________YES_____________________________

6. Show a neutral atom, a positive ion, and a negative ion. (These examples should be consistent with
the rules you discovered.) All of your examples should also have a stable nucleus.
Number of Draw Your What is
 Particles? Atom or Ion the Charge?

Neutral Protons: _6_

Neutrons:_6_
Electrons:_6_

+ Ion Protons: _7_

Neutrons:6__
Electrons:_6_

- Ion Protons: _6_

Neutrons:_7_
Electrons:_7_

7. Play until you discover what affects the mass of your atom or ion.
Which particles are heavy and which particles are light?
ELECTRONS=LIGHT, PROTONS NEUTRONS = HEAVY
What is a rule for determining the mass?
The number of protons and the number of neutrons determine an elements mass number:
Protons + Neutrons = atomic mass

8. Using all of your rules, figure out what changes for each of these actions to an atom or ion. You can
test your ideas with the simulation. If you have new ideas, rewrite your rules.
Action What How Does it Change?
Changes?

Add a ☐ Element Changes by creating a different element.

Proton

☐ Charge It increased by +1.

☐ Mass It increases.

Action What How Does it Change?

 Changes?

Remove ☐ Element SAME

a
Neutron ☐ Charge SAME

☐ Mass It decreases.

Action What How Does it Change?

Changes?

Remove ☐ SAME
an Element
Electron
☐ Charge It increased by +1.

☐ Mass Decreases slightly.

Action What How Does it Change?

Changes?

Add a ☐ Element SAME

Electron
☐ Charge It decreases by -1.

☐ Mass It increases slightly.